Soccer

Samora, Monahan Lead Five Lumberjacks on All-Big Sky Teams

OGDEN, Utah – Seniors Jenna Samora and Sam Monahan highlighted five Lumberjacks on the Big Sky Soccer All-Conference teams as voted on by the conference head coaches on Monday. Samora and Monahan both were named to the All-Big Sky first team for the second time in their careers, becoming the ninth and 10th players in program history with multiple first team selections. For both players, the first team honors makes four All-Conference selections in each of their four years at NAU.

Monahan was one of four unanimous selections to the first team, and one of only two players to repeat as first team selections from last season along with Portland State's Toni Carnovale. Samora returns to the All-Big Sky first team after receiving Honorable Mention honors last season, with her previous first team selection coming in 2009.

In addition to Monahan and Samora, senior Katie Tribbey, sophomore Lauren Weaver and freshman Sarah Tarver were also honored by the conference with All-Big Sky Conference honors. Tribbey represented the Lumberjacks on the All-Big Sky second team, while sophomore Lauren Weaver and freshman Sarah Tarver received All-Big Sky Honorable Mention. The All-Conference selections were the first of their careers for Tribbey, Weaver and Tarver.

Monahan was the team's steadiest offensive player and was the only player to start all 19 matches throughout the season. Her seven goals were a career-high, more than doubling her career total of six coming into the season. She led the team in goals, assists and points this season and recorded the game-winning goal in each of the Lumberjacks' three victories. Her totals also placed her in the top 10 in the conference, including second in both goals and points behind Montana's Erin Craig.

Samora started the season slow as she recovered from an offseason surgery, but turned up her play during the crucial conference season. In the team's seven conference games, Samora tallied four of her five season goals and posted a team-high 23 shots and 14 shots on goal. She finished the season second on the team in goals, assists, points and shots.

Both Monahan and Samora wrapped up their careers among the best to ever don a Lumberjack uniform. Samora finished her career fourth all-time in points, goals, game-winning goals and shots and leaves the program having played in 81 matches, more than any other Lumberjack in school history. Monahan concluded her career second in assists, fifth in points, tied for fifth in shots and eighth in goals.

Tribbey split time at both forward and defender this season, but started all seven conference matches in the defensive backline. Playing in every minute in each of the conference games, her impact was evident. The team allowed just 1.14 goals per game during the conference season, as compared to their overall season average of 2.26 goals per game allowed. Tribbey also chipped in three assists, tied with Samora for second on the team, and had the highest shots on goal percentage of any player on the team that attempted at least 10 shots.

Weaver was a two-time Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week honoree this season and finished the season tops in the conference in saves and saves per game. She was extremely strong in goal when it mattered the most, posting a 1.06 goals against average and a .855 save percentage during the conference season, better than her season marks in both categories. She made a career high 11 saves against Ball State, becoming the seventh Lumberjack goalkeeper to record that many saves in a single game, and she finished the season ranked No. 25 in the nation among Division I programs with 105 saves.

Tarver became the first Lumberjack to earn All-Conference honors as a true freshman since Samora received Honorable Mention in 2008. She made an immediate impact in her first season in the blue and gold, starting her first 15 career matches and recording two goals while playing in the NAU midfield. She was second on the team in shots on goal percentage on the team, behind Tribbey, and was one of five players to play in all 19 matches this season.

The five All-Big Sky selections brings head coach Andre Luciano's total to 85 All-Conference honorees in his 11 seasons with the Lumberjacks.